cybernews.com German Police Use Device Linking for Surveillance on Messaging Apps
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- •German police use device linking to access encrypted messages without decryption.
- •Surveillance methods include physical access, phishing, and SMS interception.
- •Concerns about the legality and privacy implications of these surveillance techniques.
German law enforcement agencies have begun using device linking features in messaging apps like WhatsApp, Signal, and Telegram to monitor users' messages without breaking encryption. This technique, termed 'messenger monitoring,' allows police to connect a controlled device to a suspect's account, enabling access to messages without needing to decrypt them. Methods of access include physical access to a phone, phishing for verification codes, or intercepting SMS messages. Notably, a 2020 case revealed that police monitored a couple's WhatsApp messages despite them not being suspects. The legality of this surveillance method has been questioned by German courts. The Customs Office initiated testing of this technique in late 2023, and it became an official practice in August 2025 after reported successes in serious crime investigations. Netzpolitik has raised concerns regarding the method's legality and its implications for privacy.
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